Effects of protein-energetic supplementation frequency on growth performance and nutritional characteristics of grazing beef cattle

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate reduced supplementation frequencies for grazing beef cattle in rainy season. In experiment 1, evaluating the nutritional parameters, four rumen-cannulated Nellore bulls (BW = 410 kg) were used. In experiment 2, evaluating animal performance, 48 Nellore bulls (BW = 358 kg) were used. The treatments were as follows: mineral supplement (MS) alone and MS plus protein-energy supplement provided 3×, 5× and 7×/week. Supplementation frequency did not affect (P > 0.05) intake and digestibility. Average daily gain was greater (P < 0.001) to supplementation compared with MS. The supplementation 5×/week resulted in greater weight gain per hectare (9.24) and higher economic returns during the study period (1.64%) compared to other supplementations. Supplementation 5×/week increased animal performance and positively influenced economic returns.     

Herbage intake of dairy cows in mixed sequential grazing with breeding ewes as followers

This study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that mixed sequential grazing of dairy cows and breeding ewes is beneficial. During the seasons of spring–summer 2013 and autumn–winter 2013–2014, 12 (spring–summer) and 16 (autumn–winter) Holstein Friesian cows and 24 gestating (spring–summer) and lactating (autumn–winter) Pelibuey ewes grazed on six (spring–summer) and nine (autumn–winter) paddocks of alfalfa and orchard grass mixed pastures. The treatments “single species cow grazing” (CowG) and “mixed sequential grazing with ewes as followers of cows” (MixG) were evaluated, under a completely randomized design with two replicates per paddock. Herbage mass on offer (HO) and residual herbage mass (RH) were estimated by cutting samples. The estimate of herbage intake (HI) of cows was based on the use of internal and external markers; the apparent HI of ewes was calculated as the difference between HO (RH of cows) and RH. Even though HO was higher in CowG, the HI of cows was higher in MixG during spring–summer and similar in both treatments during autumn–winter, implying that in MixG the effects on the cows HI of higher alfalfa proportion and herbage accumulation rate evolving from lower residual herbage mass in the previous cycle counteracted that of a higher HO in CowG. The HI of ewes was sufficient to enable satisfactory performance as breeding ewes. Thus, the benefits of mixed sequential grazing arose from higher herbage accumulation, positive changes in botanical composition, and the achievement of sheep production without negative effects on the herbage intake of cows.     

Virulence traits of avian pathogenic (APEC) and fecal (AFEC) <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> isolated from broiler chickens in Algeria

Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) is the etiologic agent of avian colibacillosis, the most common disease responsible for chicken morbidity in the world. Although multiple virulence-associated factors were identified, their prevalence in Algeria is still poorly known. In the present research, 92 avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) isolates were recovered from broilers with clinical signs and lesions of colibacillosis. In addition, 32 E. coli isolates collected from feces of healthy birds (AFEC) were included for comparison. All isolates were investigated by PCR for the presence of a total of 11 virulence-associated genes described for avian pathogenic (iroN, ompT, hlyF, iss, iutA, and fimC) and diarrheagenic E. coli (eae, stx, elt/est, ipaH, and aggR). The sensitivity of 39 APEC isolates to 16 antibiotics was also determined using antimicrobial pretreated microplates. Here, we report that 98% of the examined isolates host at least one of the tested virulence factors. The most prevalent genes in APEC were iutA (90.6%), ompT (86.9%), and iss (85.8%); whereas, iutA (78.1%), fimC (78.1%), and iroN (68.7%) were the highest prevalent genes in AFEC. Our data showed that none of the AFEC isolates harbor any of the tested diarrheagenic genes. Moreover, only elt/est (5.4%), stx (2.1%), and ipaH (2.1%) genes were carried by APEC isolates. We further established that ceftazodime, ceftiofur, mequindox, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and meropenem were the most efficient antibiotics against the analyzed APEC isolates. Overall, our findings provide more insights about APEC and AFEC virulence potential in Algeria which could participate in the fight against colibacillosis.     

Feeding behavior of feedlot lambs fed diets containing levels of cassava wastewater

In this study, we evaluated the effects of including cassava wastewater in the diet on the feeding behavior of feedlot lambs in 35 male uncastrated Santa Inês × Dorper crossbred lambs at an approximate age of 3 months, with an average live weight of 20.0?±?3.4 kg. Diets were formulated with hay of cassava shoots (roughage) and a concentrate based on corn and soybean, with a roughage:concentrate ratio of 50:50, plus inclusion of cassava wastewater at the levels of 0, 12, 24, 36, or 48 g/kg of the total diet. Feeding behavior was evaluated between the 46th and 52nd days of the experiment. Increasing cassava wastewater levels in the diet reduced (P?<?0.05) the intakes (kg/day) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber as well as the efficiency of rumination (g/cud and g/h) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber. The other behavioral parameters were not affected by wastewater inclusion in the diet. Therefore, the inclusion of up to 48 g/kg of cassava wastewater on fresh matter of diets is not recommended for feedlot lambs.     

Prevalence and risk factors of mycobacterial infections in farm and trade cattle in southwestern Nigeria

We evaluated the prevalence of mycobacterial infections (i.e., Mycobacterium bovis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria [NTM]) and their associated risk factors among cattle herds and trade cattle in southwestern Nigeria. Through cross-sectional study design, cattle herds from three locations were screened using the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test based on two diagnostic standards; more than 4 mm (? 4 mm) and more than 2 mm (? 2 mm) cut-off points. Abattoir study involved screening trade cattle for tuberculous lesions. Overall, 515 cattle from 45 herds were screened. Using >?4 mm, animal level and herd prevalence of 11.7 and 46.7% were recorded, respectively. Applying the ? 2 mm cut-off, animal level and herd prevalence increased to 31.1 and 60.0%, respectively. Significantly, using the ? 2 mm cut-off, cattle in medium size herds/extensive management system (OR?=?1.6; 95% CI 1.1–2.5) and Sokoto Gudali (OR?=?2.3; 95% CI 1.4–3.8) were more at risk of being positive reactors, while Rahaji (OR?=?0.3; 95% CI 0.1–0.7) breeds of cattle and cows in the peri-urban area (OR?=?0.4; 95% CI 0.2–0.9) were less at risk of being positive reactors. Again, M. avium reactor of 21.7% was observed. In the abattoir, 1797 cattle were examined with 126 lesions suggestive of tuberculosis (TB). Culture/molecular analyses confirmed 2.2% M. bovis and 0.9% NTM infections. Risk factors associated with bovine TB among trade cattle were sex (OR?=?4.0; 95% CI 1.2–13.5) and age (OR?=?0.3; 95% CI 0.1–0.9). We confirm 11.7% prevalence of mycobacterial infections among populations of cattle screened with breed and herd size being major risk factors.     

对《一起未经兽医执业注册从事动物诊疗活动案的查处与思考》的商榷

加强对执业兽医的管理,有助于规范动物诊疗监管秩序和维护公共卫生安全。本文针对一起未经兽医执业注册从事动物诊疗活动案,从执法对象、罚没违法所得的认定以及法律适用等方面进行了辨析,围绕案件处置提出了不同观点。对相关法律条文的实用性和衔接性提出了思考,如法律法规可操作性不强,条款设置存在缺陷,对法律适用的解释不明确等,以期为法律法规的完善及执法实践提供参考。     

广东主要茶区春季杂草群落调查与区域差异分析

探明广东茶园春季杂草基本情况,为茶园杂草防控提供基础数据.2020年3-5月,在广东省粤东、粤西、粤北3个茶叶主产区31个茶园共620块样方开展茶园杂草群落调查,采用七级目测法,记录样方杂草种类及生长优势等级.调查共发现杂草313种,出现频度高于10％的杂草有126种,其中菊科杂草23种、禾本科12种、茜草科8种、蔷薇...     

川麦42和川农16抗穗发芽QTL定位及聚合效应分析

【目的】小麦穗发芽严重影响小麦产量和品质,是全球小麦生产面临的重大问题之一。通过鉴定挖掘抗穗发芽QTL,聚合穗发芽抗性位点,选育抗穗发芽小麦品种,为四川小麦穗发芽抗性改良提供技术和材料支撑。【方法】以川麦42/川农16重组自交系(RIL,F8)为材料,于2016—2018年分别在2个环境下对RIL群体进行籽粒发芽指数(GI,2016和2018)、籽粒发芽率(GR,2016和2018)和整穗发芽率(SGR,2017和2018)3个穗发芽指标测定。利用90K SNP芯片构建的遗传图谱检测全基因组穗发芽相关QTL,并分析抗性QTL聚合效应。【结果】双亲间GI、GR和SGR指标值差异显著,亲本川农16穗发芽抗性明显优于亲本川麦42。共检测到11个与穗发芽抗性有关的QTL,主要分布在2B、2D、3A、3D、4A、5A、5B和6B染色体上。5B染色体上检测到的单个环境表达的整穗发芽QTL解释的表型变异率最大,达到29%;在2D和3A染色体上检测到的整穗发芽主效QTL,以及5A染色体上检测到的与种子休眠相关的籽粒发芽主效QTL,在2个环境下均能表达,其抗穗发芽等位变异均来源于川农16。基因型分析发现...     

毛乌素沙地不同水分梯度根系垂直分布与土壤水分关系的研究

通过对毛乌素沙地不同水分梯度根系垂直分布的研究表明:不同水分梯度根系分布随土壤深度的增加呈指数形式下降,不同梯度由于土壤水分、植被根系类型的差异,不同水分梯度植被根系的空间分布也有差异,不同梯度根量随土壤垂直深度的模拟方程分别为:y=9.5736e-0.1341x,R2=0.8859(I);y=16.246e-0.2037x,R2=0.9301(II);y=32.001e-0.1904x,R2=0.9544(III);y=28.336e-0.1993x,R2=0.9484(IV)。不同水分梯度土壤含水率变化程度不同,同一水分梯度各层土壤含水率变化幅度亦有差异,0.1m土壤含水率变异系数最大,随着土壤深度增加变异系数减小,根据土壤含水率变异系数分析我们将各层土壤水分垂直变化划分为活跃层(0-0.1m)、次活跃层(0.2-0.6m)、相对稳定层(1m)(I、II、III);而对IV梯度划为活跃层(0-0.1m、1m)、相对稳定层(0.3m)。根系生物量垂直分布与其对应土壤含水率有明显相反的关系,土壤含水率的变化与根系生物量的变化趋于相反,当土壤含水率增大时相应区域根系生物量减小;反之则增加。随水分梯度的增加各梯度最高水分利用层逐渐向表层发展,从第I梯度0.4m的6.84到第IV梯度0.1m的14.33。     

生物措施水土保持机理综述

植被能有效控制水土流失,被公认为水土保持最有效最根本的方法,因此水土流失区植被的恢复和建造成为水土保持工作的中心之一。通过对大量研究进行总结,进一步从机理上分析了植被对水土保持的作用,主要包括植被冠层对降雨的截留及对降雨侵蚀动能的影响,地表枯枝落叶层的水土保持作用和地下根系提高土壤抗冲性等。